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Student development specialist vs student services counselor

The differences between student development specialists and student services counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student development specialist has an average salary of $41,280, which is higher than the $41,175 average annual salary of a student services counselor.

The top three skills for a student development specialist include student development, professional development and student services. The most important skills for a student services counselor are customer service, financial aid, and student services.

Student development specialist vs student services counselor overview

Student Development SpecialistStudent Services Counselor
Yearly salary$41,280$41,175
Hourly rate$19.85$19.80
Growth rate8%10%
Number of jobs65,270104,698
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4442
Years of experience4-

What does a student development specialist do?

A student developmental specialist attends meetings and educational seminars and conducts various campaigns related to educational matters. They are responsible for fostering the students' learning environment, counselling with the guardians, and addressing academic implementation. Moreover, they are responsible for finding the students' abilities, traits, and personality characteristics.

What does a student services counselor do?

Student Services is a part of the school program that focuses on helping students in their studies. A Student Services Counselor handles this task and is the contact person for all students who need help or who have problems and issues requiring solutions and answers. In a culturally diverse population in schools, it is the student service counselor's job to connect each student to relevant student service programs available in the school. Ultimately, the welfare of the students and their success in school is the goal of this position.

Student development specialist vs student services counselor salary

Student development specialists and student services counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Student Development SpecialistStudent Services Counselor
Average salary$41,280$41,175
Salary rangeBetween $31,000 And $53,000Between $27,000 And $60,000
Highest paying CityArlington, VABoston, MA
Highest paying stateWashingtonNew Jersey
Best paying companyLos Alamos National LaboratoryKern Community College District
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between student development specialist and student services counselor education

There are a few differences between a student development specialist and a student services counselor in terms of educational background:

Student Development SpecialistStudent Services Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 67%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorPsychologyBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityUniversity of Pennsylvania

Student development specialist vs student services counselor demographics

Here are the differences between student development specialists' and student services counselors' demographics:

Student Development SpecialistStudent Services Counselor
Average age4442
Gender ratioMale, 35.4% Female, 64.6%Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.2% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 5.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%11%

Differences between student development specialist and student services counselor duties and responsibilities

Student development specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and coordinate all aspects of EOF program special events and leadership-relate activities.
  • Used Microsoft applications to create informative PowerPoint's, brochures and advertisements market to high school students.
  • Travele the state of Montana to high schools and tribal colleges to build relationships with counselors and administration.
  • Design and develop complex enterprise java applications, object orient software, work on code optimization and data modeling.
  • Monitor student behavior -assist with student IEP and report student activity

Student services counselor example responsibilities.

  • Assist in all aspects of the FAFSA, insuring that every eligible student apply accurately.
  • Verify FAFSA applications for accuracy.
  • Plan retention and recruitment opportunities for students, prospective employers and alumni through interdepartmental and professional cooperative efforts.
  • Create, construct and maintain a student info PowerPoint presentation.
  • Draft general email correspondence, introduction/thank you letters, excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations.
  • Develop formal policies/procedures for daily operations such as program approvals/tracking, financial tracking systems, staff meetings and leadership opportunities.

Student development specialist vs student services counselor skills

Common student development specialist skills
  • Student Development, 26%
  • Professional Development, 11%
  • Student Services, 11%
  • Event Planning, 7%
  • Student Organizations, 7%
  • Colleges, 5%
Common student services counselor skills
  • Customer Service, 18%
  • Financial Aid, 11%
  • Student Services, 10%
  • Social Work, 7%
  • Rehabilitation, 7%
  • Mental Health, 4%

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